What is the 16:9 Aspect Ratio (Landscape)?
The 16:9 aspect ratio is a widescreen format commonly used for YouTube, CTV, and desktop web placements. It’s cinematic but less dominant in mobile feeds. Because many cameras and editing workflows default to 16:9, it’s a practical master for longer narratives and demos. Brands often pair 16:9 with vertical cutdowns to cover Shorts, Reels, and Stories.
Understanding 16:9
Landscape makes sense for longer narratives and product demos on YouTube and websites. In social feeds, the 16:9 aspect ratio can appear small, so plan 1:1 or 4:5 variants for feeds. Extra width supports multi‑subject scenes, side‑by‑side comparisons, and UI screen captures. When planning shoots, protect central action so 16:9 footage can reframe to 9:16 without losing key details. On‑site and CTV, 16:9 reads well from a distance with bold supers and clear audio.
Many cameras and edit tools default to the 16:9 aspect ratio, making it a practical master for production. Keep safe zones around titles and logos to avoid edge truncation on TVs. Add burned‑in captions where auto‑captioning isn’t available or reliable. For cross‑format campaigns, storyboard cutdowns for 9:16 and 1:1 in advance. Preview on common devices to confirm legibility before launch.
Why 16:9 matters
The 16:9 aspect ratio remains the standard for YouTube in‑stream and many web video players. It ensures compatibility with longer‑form content where viewers expect landscape. It also provides a strong foundation for vertical derivatives.
- Standard for YouTube in-stream and many web players
- Great for on-site explainers, banners, and hero sections
- Best for shots that benefit from horizontal framing
How 16:9 works in practice
The 16:9 aspect ratio fits YouTube (non‑Shorts) and CTV where viewers expect landscape and longer narratives. In social feeds, ensure legible captions and large product visuals so the small footprint still reads. Plan vertical cutdowns to extend coverage into Shorts/Reels without starting from scratch. Keep key visuals central to maintain clarity across TVs and desktops, and add burned‑in captions where needed. When cross‑formatting to vertical, shoot with extra headroom and spacing around subjects to create clean crops. Always preview on mobile to confirm text and UI elements don’t sit too close to edges.
Meta Information
- Primary Keyword: 16:9 Aspect Ratio (Landscape)
- Secondary Keywords: widescreen, landscape video, 16:9 ads, YouTube in-stream
- Target Word Count: 800–1,000 words
- Meta Title: 16:9 Aspect Ratio (Landscape): YouTube and CTV Basics | Marpipe
- Meta Description: See when to use 16:9 landscape for YouTube, CTV, and site placements, with tips to avoid letterboxing in feeds.
- URL: marpipe.com/ad-glossary/aspect-ratio-16-9-landscape
# What is the 16:9 Aspect Ratio (Landscape)?
The 16:9 aspect ratio is a widescreen format commonly used for YouTube, CTV, and desktop web placements. It’s cinematic but less dominant in mobile feeds. Because many cameras and editing workflows default to 16:9, it’s a practical master for longer narratives and demos. Brands often pair 16:9 with vertical cutdowns to cover Shorts, Reels, and Stories.
Understanding 16:9
Landscape makes sense for longer narratives and product demos on YouTube and websites. In social feeds, the 16:9 aspect ratio can appear small, so plan 1:1 or 4:5 variants for feeds. Extra width supports multi‑subject scenes, side‑by‑side comparisons, and UI screen captures. When planning shoots, protect central action so 16:9 footage can reframe to 9:16 without losing key details. On‑site and CTV, 16:9 reads well from a distance with bold supers and clear audio.
Many cameras and edit tools default to the 16:9 aspect ratio, making it a practical master for production. Keep safe zones around titles and logos to avoid edge truncation on TVs. Add burned‑in captions where auto‑captioning isn’t available or reliable. For cross‑format campaigns, storyboard cutdowns for 9:16 and 1:1 in advance. Preview on common devices to confirm legibility before launch.
Why 16:9 matters
The 16:9 aspect ratio remains the standard for YouTube in‑stream and many web video players. It ensures compatibility with longer‑form content where viewers expect landscape. It also provides a strong foundation for vertical derivatives.
- Standard for YouTube in-stream and many web players
- Great for on-site explainers, banners, and hero sections
- Best for shots that benefit from horizontal framing
How 16:9 works in practice
The 16:9 aspect ratio fits YouTube (non‑Shorts) and CTV where viewers expect landscape and longer narratives. In social feeds, ensure legible captions and large product visuals so the small footprint still reads. Plan vertical cutdowns to extend coverage into Shorts/Reels without starting from scratch. Keep key visuals central to maintain clarity across TVs and desktops, and add burned‑in captions where needed. When cross‑formatting to vertical, shoot with extra headroom and spacing around subjects to create clean crops. Always preview on mobile to confirm text and UI elements don’t sit too close to edges.
Best practices
- Design titles and supers for distance legibility.
- Keep product within central safe area; avoid edge cramming.
- Add burned-in captions where platform doesn’t auto-caption.
- Create vertical cutdowns for mobile-first placements.
- Avoid uploading 16:9 to vertical-only placements.
Key Takeaways
- 16:9 is the standard landscape aspect ratio for YouTube, in-stream, and desktop display ads.
- Export at 1920x1080 or higher for best quality.
- Avoid excessive letterboxing on vertical placements by building native vertical assets.
- Use templates to generate 16:9 variants alongside vertical sizes for full placement coverage.
